Page 77 of The Hawk Laird
“He might never meet danger, yet lose his heart.”
“It was no symbol,” she whispered. “The danger is real.”
“Mayhap,” he said. “Isobel—that parchment you mentioned. I have it.”
Her eyes widened. “What do you mean?”
“The night Wallace was taken, he dropped something hidden in his hand, though his hands were bound together. Later I went back to find it. A folded parchment, just as you described. But you could not have known that. No one knows that.”
She sat up, interest caught. “You still have it?”
“Aye. It is a letter from Bishop Lamberton of Saint Andrews to William Wallace that mentions a pact between the bishop and Robert Bruce, a promise of support against the English. The bishop invited Wallace, with Bruce’s sanction, to join in a secret bond. The Scottish Church declared their stance against the English, but the letter reveals that Bruce of Carrick, who gave his oath of service to King Edward more than once, is a key part of the rebellion as well, and supported Wallace.”
Isobel looked stunned. “And if the English had evidence of Bruce’s loyalty and intentions, it would be the end of him. And the future of Scotland might be lost.”
He nodded. “I kept the letter, fearing that if I sent it to Bruce or to Lamberton, it might be intercepted. Perhaps I was the one guarding the lion’s secret, as you hinted—Bruce, if all goes well.”
A crease formed between her brows. “I think you keep many secrets.”
“I trust few people. And few would trust a traitor.”
“And you do not trust me, when I have faith in you.”
“I do trust you,” he whispered, and felt awe, gratefulness—and love—pour through him, and with it a current of regret. Soon he must give her up and ruin what faith she had in him.
She laid her hand upon his bare chest. He wondered if she could feel the wild beat of his heart beneath her fingers. “Why call yourself a traitor? All I see in you is honor.”
He sighed. For a long time, he had kept those dark memories private, but the urge was strong suddenly to tell her—only her. No one knew the full tale, and it would take more than trust for him to reveal it. He drew a breath.
“The English took me prisoner last spring. I was held in Carlisle,” he began.
“And released in the summer.” She nodded.
“I was with other Scots nobles, and when they took some of us north, I escaped from the escort. Janet did not get away with me. That was when Ralph Leslie took her to Wildshaw.”
“And so you must get her back. I understand. None of this makes you a traitor.”
“While I was in Carlisle, King Edward sent orders that some of us must sign a statement. We would be executed unless we obeyed. A few of us signed it, never meaning to keep it. Those who signed were released shortly afterward. I was given into Leslie’s custody. He was ordered to let me go on the promise that I would fulfill what was asked. But he decided to keep me a bit longer. But I did not agree with that.” He shrugged. “So I left his patrol once we were in the forest.”
“What was the parchment you signed?” she asked quietly.
“An agreement to—hunt down Wallace and deliver him to the English.”
She caught her breath. “I do not believe you would ever make that promise.”
“Believe it. We signed the pledge, but none of us intended to keep it.” He watched the fire. “But I kept it. I led them to Will.”
“That cannot be all the truth. Not you, Jamie.”
He lifted a shoulder. “I escaped and heard that Wallace was north of here, so I set out to find him, disguised as a pilgrim. But I was followed. Leslie sent a man after me. Had I known,” he muttered, “I would have taken a different route or changed my guise. But all unawares, I led them to Will.”
“You could not have known what would happen.”
“This from a prophetess.” He gave a bitter laugh. “Soldiers followed me to a house where I had heard Wallace could be found. I tried to lead them away when I discovered—but I was too late.”
She touched his face, and he realized her vision was not yet restored. “You did not betray him.”
“I did.” He closed his eyes, feeling the anguish, feeling her butterfly-soft touch assuage it some. “I led the bastards to him. If I had not gone there, he might be alive today.”
